Vector-borne diseases

Chikungunya

Chikungunya is a viral tropical disease transmitted also by Aedes mosquitoes.

It is relatively uncommon and poorly documented. The disease has been found in Africa, Asia, and on islands in the Caribbean, Indian and Pacific Oceans.

Typical symptoms are an acute illness with fever, skin rash and incapacitating joint pains that can last for weeks. The latter distinguishes chikungunya virus from dengue, which otherwise shares the same vectors, symptoms and geographical distribution.

There is no cure or commercial vaccine for the disease. Most patients recover fully but, in some cases, joint pain may persist for several months or even years.

As with dengue, the only method to reduce transmission of chikungunya virus is to control vector mosquitoes and protect against mosquitoes bites.